Government urges businesses to wise up to cyber security risks

Kate McCann is a reporter at City A.M. She covers politics and insurance and can be contacted at kate.mccann@cityam.com.

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Kate McCann

MINISTERS have launched a new campaign to improve cyber security in small and medium sized businesses (SMEs) after research suggested 82 per cent of consumers would buy more from them online if they felt better protected.

The cyber streetwise scheme, part of the government’s National Cyber Security Programme, revealed a number of flaws in the way SMEs approach online risk, including research that showed only 46 per cent regularly check their IT systems for breaches. Ministers also found that 77 per cent of larger companies expect SMEs to prove their cyber security credentials before they are selected as suppliers. Poor security could be holding many back.

Security minister James Brokenshire said: “The internet has created huge opportunities for SMEs, but more businesses need to ensure they are protecting themselves from cyber criminals.”